Plans To Remove Bees From Dilapidated Home Stall

An audible buzz can be heard from across the street of Meagan Helton's Brookhill Drive home. It's not electricity and it isn't the whir of a small, motorized vehicle either. It is the sound of hundreds of bees swirling around the neighboring dilapidated home of the Vogellus family. And it's been going on that way for years.

Plans to vacate the bees and restore the home to its former self have been on the mind of Helton as well as the Vogellus matriarch’s son, JT, for years. However, hardly do plans ever go exactly according to plan.

JT Vogellus, son of the owner whose house was left dilapidated and infested with bees when she was no longer able to take care of it herself, knows this truth all too well.

"The bees have been in this home since the 60s before we even owned the house," Vogellus said. "We moved into the house in 1978."

Vogellus gained ownership of the home two months ago long after his mother had to be relocated into a continued care facility when she became no longer able to take care of herself, let alone the care of her large home.

Vogellus knows the bees pose a hardship to his neighbors, but also acknowledges there is only so much he can do with limited financial resources. He has enlisted the help of friends and county caseworkers to assist him in the relocation of the bees as well as renovations to the home so his mother can once again return there.

"Right now I'm in talks with a local bank to pay for the renovation bill," Vogellus said.

Vogellus explained he is awaiting approval of the loan application to go which could take as long as 45 days, if not longer. And that's assuming the bank approves his application.

, Vogellus enlisted the help of friend and construction contractor, Ronald Conn to oversee the renovations and removal of the bees. Conn would provide the assistance free of charge.

However removing the bees that have been accumulating in the home for more than 35 years is no small task and enlisting the aid of an experienced beekeeper under limited funds has proven problematic for Vogellus. 

"It's going to cost a lot of money and we're not talking about exterminating them (the bees)," Vogellus said. "We want to get a beekeeper, but the bees are in the walls of the house, and in the 35 years the bees have made it under the floor."

In the meantime, neighbors like Helton wait for some sign of progress to be made in the removal process.

"Construction was expected to begin June 8, but nothing has happened," Helton said in an email.

Helton has gone over to the Vogellus home, and according to her records, can count as many as 21 different beehives in and around the property.

"My husband was stung last week when on our front porch," Helton said. "We currently have about 100 dead bees on our driveway and front porch."

Vogellus is aware of and can appreciate the concern neighbors like Helton have when it comes to the bee problem, but also acknowledges the bees have been there long before he or many of the neighbors began living in the neighborhood.

"Once we have the money from the bank, things will be set in motion, but until then - aside from standing on a street corner taking handouts - there isn't much I can do," Vogellus said. "When she (Helton) bought the house, the bees were already there, it's not like they just crept in there over night."